Steam-joint.



' PATENTED JULY 2, 1907.

' G. H. ATKINs.

STEAM JOINT APPLIUATION FILED' Nov. 2, 190s.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PATBNTED JULY 2, 1907l C. H. ATKINYS. STEAM JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.2, 1906.

z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ha w

CI-IARLES HENRY ATKINS, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

STE AMI-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1907.

Application filed November 2, 1906. Serial No. 341.742.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES HENRY A'rKrNs, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, and a resident of Springfield, in the county ofHampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Steam-Joints,` of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description.

This invention relates to improved means for making a satisfactory steamtight joint between a conduit made as a unitary hub-like tubularextension or journal of a rotary steam receptacle (such as the drierdrum of a paper machine, or a rotary pulp-stock digcster, or a rotarydrying can used in a calico mill) and a non rotatable steam supplyingconduit axially alined and communicating with and inclosed by a portionof the said tubular hub like journal extension, without the employmentof a stufng box or boxes, and all so that in cases of leakage in thejoint after protracted use the parts including the joint plate, and theseat therefor may be easily disassembled and be reground.

The invention further relates to constructions or formations in thejointed parts which enable a lubrication of such parts, and also serveas an indicator whether or not the joint is steam tight.

The invention further relates to the provision, in a novel manner, inconjunction with the tubular hublike extension of the steam receptacleand the non rotatable axially alined steam-supplying conduit jointedthereto, of a pipe for extracting water and air harmfully accumulatingin the steam drum or receptacle; and, furthermore, to the provision, asan appurtenance of said pipe, of externally visible means forascertaining merely by a glance whether or not the bent end of said pipewithin the steam receptacle is properly downturned so as to have itsopen end near the bottom of the receptacle, and operable to readilyrectify any displacement of the pipe as occasion therefor may require.

The invention consists in the combinations or arrangements of parts, andin the Constructions of, or provisions for, certain of the parts, allsubstantially as hereinafter fully described, and as definitely setforth in the claims.

The present improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings,in which, Figure l is a front view of a steam drier-drum, such asplurally employed on paper machines, a portion thereof being shown insection on the axial plane, indicating the location of the steam joint,and showing the air and water exhausting pipe combined therein. Fig. 2is an end view, on a larger scale, of the parts seen at the right handportion of Fig. l. (Fig. 3 is in part a cross section and in part a faceview as seen looking to the rightward beyond the plane indicated by line3 3, Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view, on a larger scale, takenat the plane indicated by the line 4 on Fig. 1,'and also by the line 4 4on Fig. 7. Fig. 5 is a view of the left hand end of the non-rotatablesteam supplying conduit section hereinafter referred to. Fig. 6 is aside view on a larger scale of the portions shown in Fig. l to therightward of the section line 3 3. Fig. 7 is a horizontal longitudinalsectional view of the parts shown in Fig. 6, taken on the line 7 7Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts inall ofthe views.

In the drawings, A represents a rotary steam receptacle which asexemplified in Fig. 1 is of the form employed for a drier drum of apaper machine, the same being shown supported axially horizontally injournal bearings therefor of a portion of the machine frame B. The steamreceptacle or drum has essentially at one end thereof an axial hub-likeendwise open tubular extension a preferably made integrally with the endhead of the drum.

C represents a sleeve like part endwise adj oined and by bolts b bsecured to the hub like portion a ofthe drum and constituting a jointelement rotatable as one with the drum and its said part a.

D represents a non rotatable steam conduit or section, being for agreater portion of the length thereof fitted within the sleeve likesection C, and having outwardly beyond the end of such sleeve like parta coupling head d constructed with a dividing wall e therewithin wherebyare formed the steam inlet chamberf and an air and water outlet chambei`g, to the'former of which chambers a steam supply pipe f 2 leads whilefrom the latter chamber g leads an air and water exhausting pipe g2. Thetubular non rotatable steam conduit D has its end farthest from thecoupling head located just forward of the plane of the joint between theparts a and the sleeve section C which is affixed thereto. The saidsleeve section has at its end in proximity to the end of the tubularysteam section D a depression h at one boundary of which a seat shoulderi is produced.

F represents a joint-plate of circular form as shown, facewise, in Fig.3, and is made withl an intermediate aperture or apertures j. This jointplate f is preferably slightly thinner than the depth of the depressionl1., has its disposition in such depression, and has an overlappingbearing on the truly ground seat shoulder t and the end of the tubularsteam section D and by the screws 7c 1c the said joint plate is tightlysecured on the end of the tubular section D. And, as shown in Fig. 7 theforward face of the joint plate has a depression or rabbetmin which thediametrically reduced end portion of the section D is seated with aclose fit circumferentially as well as by end contact.

It will be perceived in Fig. 7 that by reason of the left hand endportion of the section D being diametrically reduced or necked down fromits seated end a slight distance forwardly beyond the plane of the seatshoulder t', a small annular space or chamber o is produced adjoiningthe seam at the contacting surfaces of the joint plate and seat shoulderand the periphery of the tubular section D and internal bore through thesleeve like section or extension C ot the'hollow drum hub. The section Dhas grooves p, p2, extending along its external surface longitudinallyand connecting into.

the aforementioned annular chamber o. These grooves forwardly extendsomewhat beyond the outer end of the sleeve section C and their outer'ends are inclosed or covered by a collar G fitted on the section D andabutted against the end of the sleeve section C. This collar G hasopposite radial openings q and q2 in line with said grooves and havingcommunication therewith. In one of these openings or passages q2 isprovided a set screw H having an axial hole g3 from end to end thereon*the set screw serving to confine the collar against endwise androtational displacement while the hole therethrough affords a contractedoutlet or way through which steam, if any, leaking through the jointwhen the same, after protracted use, may have become defective, may beperceived and taken as a warning of the necessity for regrinding theseat shoulder t', the joint-plate F, or both thereof. An oil cup orlubricator J connects into the upper opening q in the collar for givinga regulated supply of oil into the upper groove p whereby it maylubricate the cylindrical bearing parts of the sections D and C, andalso by running to the annular chamber o it becomesdistributedjtothoroughly lubricate the last mentioned bearing surfacesand also the forward tace of the joint plate in revolving contact onwhich is the seat shoulder i. The aforementioned collar Gr isadditionally held against rotational displacement by the stud andsocketgengagement indicated at r provided between the collarand couplinghead.

L represents anon rotative air and water exhausting pipe, located andextending centrally through` the non rotatable steam conduit or sectionD and through the tubular hub a of the drum, being intermediatelyclosely fitted in and supported by the ring like concentric part s ofthe joint plate which to this end is made as in the form of a spiderframe, as is to be perceived on again referring to Fig. 3 and the saidpipe L has a downwardly directed inner extremity t which properlyterminates within, and near the bottom of the drum. The forward or outerend portion of the said non rotative tube L is connected, supported andarranged relatively to the coupling head, as clearly shown in Fig. 7:that is, its forward extremity is fitted tlnough a round hole e2therefor in the wall or partition e, the end of this tube proper is setclosely against the vertical internal wall surface of the chamber g andthe said tube has one or more holes 'Lc whereby communication is hadbetween the tube passage and the chamber g from which the suction pipeg2 leads. The tube has an end closing part which in the present instanceis constituted by a stud or cylindrical plug o passed through the outervertical wall of the coupling head, telescoped for a suitable distanceinto the end portion of the tube L and connected therewith by the pin'02. The said stud o is visible and accessible externally of thecoupling head, and

is provided with a screw threaded portion v3 receiving engagementthereon of a locking nut w to be turned up to hard contact against theouter surface of the coupling head, holding the tube against liability,under ordinary conditions, of rotating. The said cylindrical plug orstud is made with a tell-tale feature, formed or arranged to correspondwith the deflection radially of the tube extremity t; and the same, asshown at x, consists of a diametrical ribbon the end of the plug havinga V- shape at its lower end,-the plug and tube being so connected at theradial lines of the tube extremity p and the rib a; coincide, the V endof the rib pointing in the direction ofthe downturning ofthe tubeextremity. It will be perceived that the said tube L is supportedthrough the joint-plate F and in the coupling head d which are nonrotative parts, whereby little liability obtains for the turning of thetube, but inasmuch as it is highly important that the tubes bemaintained in the driers, as represented in Fig. 1, the tell-talefeature above particularly described and explained is an important andvaluable provision in, or appurtenant to, the steam joint. It is, ofcourse, manifest that in cases where the tube L becomes rotationallydisplaced the same will be immediately perceived by the machine tenderand may be, by him, readily rectied.

1. The combination with a tubular conduit made as a hub-like extensionof a rotary steam receptacle, and a tubular non-rotatable steam conduitsection axially alined with, and endwise adjacent, the rotatable tubularconduit, and having, outwardly thereof, means for connection therewithof a steam supplying pipe, of a sleeve like part iitted about the saidnon-rotatable tubular conduit in endwise proximity to, and connected torotate in unison with the said tubular conduit Iand having in saidendwise proximate end a seat-shoulder-including depression, and anintermediately apertured joint plate, facewise bearing against saidseat-shoulder in the depression at the end of said sleeve like part, anddetachably fastened to the adjacent end portion of the saidnon-rotatable tubular steam conduit section.

2. The combination with a rotary steam receptacle having a tubularconduit made as a hub-like extension thereof, and a tubularnon-rotatable section axially alined with, and endwise adjacent, therotatable conduit, and having, outwardly therefrom, means for connectiontherewith, of a steam supplying pipe, of a sleeve like part fitted aboutthe said non rotatable tubular conduit in endwise proximity to, andconnected to rotate in unison with the said conduit extension and havingin said endwise proximate end a depression, with a seat shouldertherein, and an intermediately apertured plate,l facewise bearingagainst said seat-shoulder in the depression at the end of said sleevelike part having a depression in the face thereof, in which the end ofthe said non rotatable tubular section has a seating fit, and screwsengaged through the said plate and threading into the end portion ofsaid non rotatable section.

3. In combination, a rotary steam receptacle having an axial hub-likeendwise open tubular extension and a nonrotatable tubular sectionaxially alined with and endwise adjacent the rotatable hub-likeextension provided with a steam supplying connection, a sleeve like partfitted about said non-rotatable section and endwise connected to, andfor rotation in unison with, the said hub-like extension, and having inits end a circular' depression with a seat shoulder thereinconcentrically outside of the adjacent end of the non-rotatable section,an intermediately apertured plate located in said depression andfacewise bearing against the seat therein and against the end of thenonrotatable section and secured to the latter, and said non rotatablesection having a groove longitudinally extending along its externalsurface, connecting with the seam at the contacting surfaces of theplate against the seat shoulder in the sleeve like part and end of thenon-rotatable section, and having a radial way in communication with thesaid groove and leading to the exterior of the appliance.

4. In combination, a rotary steam receptacle having an axial hub-likeendwise open tubular extension and a nonrotatable tubular sectionaxially alined with and endwise adjacent the rotatable hub-likeextension provided with a steam supplying connection, a sleeve like partntted about said non-rotatable section and endwise connected to, and forrotation in unison with, the said hub-like extension, and having in itsend a circular depression with a seat shoulder therein concentricallyoutside of the adjacent end of the non-rotatable section, anintermediately apertured plate located in said depression and facewisebearing against the seat therein and against the end of thenon-rotatable section and secured to the latter, and said non rotatablesection having grooves longitudinally extending along its externalsurface, at different portions thereof, and connecting with an annularspace which is constituted between the non rotatable section and therotatable sleeve-section forwardly adjacent the joint plate, and acollar, fast on the non rotatable section next to the outer end of thesleeve like part, having radial passages connecting with said grooves.

5. In combination, a rotary steam receptacle having an axial hub-likeendwise open tubular extension and a nonrotatable tubular sectionaxially alined with and endwise adjacent the rotatable hub-likeextension provided with a steam supplying connection, a sleeve like partfitted about said non-rotatable section and endwise connected to, andfor rotation in unison with, the said hub-like extension, and having inits end a circular depression with a seat shoulder thereinconcentrically outside of the adjacent end of the non-rotatable section,an intermediately aperturcd plate located in said depression andfacewise bearing against the seat therein and against the end of thenon-rotatable section and .secured to the latter, and said non rotatablesection havinggrooves longitudinally extending along its externalsurface at dierent portions thereof, and connecting with an annularspace which is constituted between the non rotatable section and therotatable sleeve-section forwardly adjacent the joint plate, a collar,fast on the non rotatable section next to the outer end of the sleevelike part, having radial passages connecting with said grooves, an oilsupplying device connected with one of said radial passages, and alongitudinally bored set screw, engaged in the other of said passages,and binding the collar ou the non rotatable section.

6. The combination with an axially horizontal drum having a tubularhub-like extension, and a tubular non-ro` tatable section axially alinedwith, and endwise adjacent, said extension, and having a steam supplyingpipe connect ed therewith, of a sleeve like part fitted about the saidnon rotatable tubular conduit in endwise proximity to, and connected torotate in unison with the said drum extension and having in its end aseat shoulder forming depression, a joint plate located in vsaiddepression and facewise bearing against said seat-shoulder and alsofacewise bearing against and secured to the end of said non-rotatablesection, and intermediately apertured, and having :1 ring-like supportconcentrically in its intermediate aperture, and a non-rotative air andwater exhausting pipe, extending centrally through the non rotatablesection, through the hub-like drum extension,-being closely fitted in,and supported by, said ring like concentric part of the apertured jointplate,-and having a downwardly directed inner extremity terminatingwithin and near the bottom of the drurn.

7. The combination with an axially horizontal rotary steam drum having atubular hub-like extension, and a nonrotatable steam conduit sectionhaving a portion thereof fitted within the said hub-like extension andhaving outwardly beyond said extension a coupling head constructed witha dividing wall therewithin constituting a steam inlet chamber and anair and water outlet chamber, of a tube having the outer end portionthereof located within and in communication with said air and wateroutlet chamber and extended centrally through the conduit section anddrum extension, and having a downwardly turned extremity terminatingwithin and near the bottom of the drum, and a stud fitted through thecoupling head and fastened to the outer, chamber-inclosed, end of saidtube, said stud having its outer portion accessible and visibleexternally of the coupling head.

S. The combination with an axially horizontal rotary steam drum having atubular hub-like extension, and a non-rotatable steam conduit sectionhaving a portion thereof fitted within the said hub-like extension andhaving outwardly beyond said extension a coupling head constructed witha dividing wall therewithin constituting a steam inlet chamber and anair and water outlet chamber, of a tube having the outer end portionthereof located within said air and water outlet chamber having a holeconnecting the tube passage with said chamber, having its outer endpositioned against the internal surface of a wall of such chamber, andsaid tube being extended centrally through the conduit section and drumextension, and having a downwardly turned extremity terminating withinand near the bottom of the drum, a stud fitted through the couplinghead, tted and fastened in the outer end portion of said tube, having anexternally located portion screw threaded and a nut screw engaging onthe stud and to be set against the outer side of the coupling head.

9. The combination with an axially horizontal rotary steam drum having atubular hub-like extension, and a non-rotatable steam conduit sectionhaving a portion thereof fitted within the said hub-like extension andhaving outwardly beyond said extension a coupling head constructed witha dividing wall therewithin constituting a steam inlet chamberand an airand water outlet chamber, of a tube having the outer end portion thereoflocated within and in communication with said air and water out-l letchamber and extended centrally through the conduit section and drumextension, and having a downwardly turned extremity terminating withinand near the bottom of the drum, and a stud fitted through the couplinghead and fastened to the outer, chamber-inclosed, end of said tube, saidstud having its outer portion accessible and visible externally of thecoupling head, and having a feature to serve as a tell-tale whereby maybe determined whether or not the downturned extremity of the tube withinthe drum is in its properly depending position.

10. The combination with an axially horizontal rotary steam ydrum havinga tubular hub-like extension, and a non-rotatable steam conduit sectionhaving a portion thereof fitted within the said hub-like extension andhaving outwardly beyond said extension a coupling head constructed witha dividing wall therewithin constituting a steam inlet chamber and anair and water outlet chamber, of a tube having a portion thereof nearits outer end located within and in communication with said air andwater outlet chamber having a tube end-closing portion thereof extendedthrough the wall of the coupling head and externally visible andaccessible thereat, and said tube being oppositely extended through theconduit section and drum extension, and constructed with a downwardlyturned extremity terminating within and near the bottom of the drumi 11.The combination with an axially horizontal rotary steam drum having atubular hub-like extension, a nonrotatable steam conduit section havinga portion thereof fitted Within and to constitute a partial journal forthe said hub-like extension and having outwardly beyond said extension acoupling head constructed with a dividing wall therewithin constitutinga steam inlet chamber, and an air and water outlet chamber, and acircular spider shaped joint plate supported by the end of the nonrotatable conduit section, and preventing steam entrance between thesurface of said section and the portion of the internal surface of thehub-like extension in encircling bearing thereabout, of a tube havingthe outer end portion thereof located within and in communication withsaid air and water outlet chamber and extended centrally through theconduit section and drum extension,-deriving intermediately' a supportin the spider shaped joint plate,-and having a downwardly turnedextremity terminating within and near s the bottom of the drum, a studfitted through the coupling fr head and fastened to the outer,chamber-inclosed, end of said tube, said stud having its outer portionaccessible l. and visible externally of the coupling head.

12. The combination with a rotary steam receptacle pro outwardlyextending circular flange like part having face- 10 vided with a tubularhub-like extension comprising an outwise contact against said annularseat shoulder.

wardly located portion having the bore therethrough of Signed by me atSpringlield, Mass., in presence of two reduced diameter, whereby anannular seat shoulder is subscribing witnesses,

provided facing towards the receptacle, a non rotative CHARLES ENRYATKINS tubular steam supplying section about which said outwardlylocated portion of the hub' like extension closely Witnesses:

ts, having an end thereof located adjacent and concen- WM. S. BELLOWS,

trically relatively to said shoulder and provided with an G. R.DRISCOLL.

